Hand-seeder.



Patented May l4, l90l.-

S. J. SIMMONS.

HAND SEEDER.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1900.) (No Model.) '2 Sheets-Sheet I.

INVENTOR- {M ATTORNEY.

WITNESSES 1S PETERS co, mmouwu, wasume'rom D. c.

No. 674,|87. Patented .May [4, l90l.

" s. J. smmous.

HAND SEEDER.

(Application filed Nov. 30, 1900.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

1N VEN T 0R:

WITNESSES:

= ATTORNEK NITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

SAMUEL JUMP SIMMONS, OF INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA.

HAN D-SEEDER.

SPECIFICATION forming part Of Letters Patent No. 674,187, dated May 14, 1901.

Application filed November 30, 1900. Serial No. 38,115. (No model.) I

being bad to the accompanying drawings, and

to the letters and figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to a portable vessel and mechanism adapted to be carried and operated manually for sowing seeds broadcast, the object being to provide an implement of this character which may be shipped as a knockdown article and be readily set up for use by an unskilled purchaser and at the same time provide a cheaply-constructed seeder which shall be durable and economical in use. The invention consists in a main frame having an open front and detachable from the vessel and complete in itself for supporting the operating mechanism, in a detachable distributer and shaft therefor, and in the parts and combination and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter particularly described, and pointed out in the claims appended.

Referring to the drawings, Figure 1 represents a front elevation view, and Fig. 2 a side elevation view, of a knockdown hand-seeder constructed in accordance with my invention, the upper portion of the vessel being broken away; Fig. 3, a bottom plan or inverted view; Fig. 4:, a fragmentary vertical longitudinal central sectional view showing the continuous main frame and detachable operating mechanism; Fig. 5, a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional view taken as on a line X X in Fig. 4; Fig. 6, a fragmentary inverted view showing the feed-gate and its supportingframe in plan; Fig. 7, a transverse sectional View of the crank-shaft, showing the manner a portion of the main frame, and Fig. 11 a perspective view of the feed-gate.

-of the neck of the operator.

, Similar reference characters in the several Views indicate like parts.

In construction I provide an oblong main base A, preferably of wood, which serves also as a bottom of the vessel in which the seeds are to be carried, the sides B of the vessel being preferably made of canvas of suitable.

height and may be provided with any suitable means for carrying theimplement, such as a strap adapted to extend about the back The sides B are fitted to the edge of the main base A and secured thereto by a binder a and suitable tacks. The ends of the base are preferably semicircular, or the base may be oval in plan. The distributor O is generally of well-known form, comprising flatarms radiating from'a central hub b, having a smooth bore (1, the arms having each an upturned flange e. At the lower side of the distributor is a pinion D, secured thereto, and a hub J extends below the pinion, the bore (:1 extending through the pinion and the lower hub J, the latter being provided with a removable cotter extending transversely through the bore d in a suitable aperture in the hub. The bore d is adapted to freely receive a standard size of wire in a neat loose fit. Alarge toothed wheel E meshes with the pinion D and is driven by a cranked shaft F, which will be further described.

The main frame as a whole is designated by G and is formed of a continuous piece of metal, the several portions of which are: f, the frame-base, the thicker and stronger portion having side ears h h, whereby the whole is secured to the main base A; t, the upper reach-arm, whereby the upper end of the distributor-shaft is supported and journaled in a bearingk in a head j; p, the lower reacharm, joined to the base f bya curved portion n, and having a drop-hanger portion g, at the lower end of which is a bracket or, having a journal-bearing o for the cranked shaft F, which is mounted and entirely supported therein. The upper end of the drop-hanger portion g has a socket-bearinga therein, hav- IOO trolled. The upper arm iis rendered stiff by l a short extension 071, secured to the base Aby a bolt Z. i

The CllSlJllblliiGFSllFtft I is formed of a piece of rolled iron or of thick wire and has a conical end 15, adapted to bear and rotate in the socket rand in the bearing 7t, and a short distance above the conical end it has a transverse pin-hole 2, adapted to receive the removable cotter or pin w. A similar pin-hole 3 is drilled transversely in the opposite or upper end of the shaft, in which is inserted a pin 1 for stirring the seeds and assisting the feeding thereof through the gate-aperture.

The crank-shaft F is composed of a continuous piece of wire and has a bent portion near one end thereof, forming a crank F, provided with a suitable handle. The opposite end is journaled in the bearing 1), at one end of which a cheaply-formed collar R is attached to the shaft and is composed of a short piece of Wire wrapped closely about the shaft and having one end 10 thereof bent abruptly and forced into a slight depression formed in the surface of the shaft. At the opposite end of the bearing the toothed wheel E is removably attached to the shaft F by means of a removable cotter or pin 12, inserted through a suitable hole in the shaft and a registering hole in an extension-hub E of the wheel.

A frame K is composed of a plate having a head portion extending nearly across the under side of the base A, and from the forward end thereof backward a suitable distance to form a side of a feed-aperture 6, and thence rearwardlyas two parallel limbs,formingslideways L L,in which a sliding gate M is mounted, so that one edge thereof may form a cut-off '7, operating with the side 6, which is in a line oblique to the cut-off 7. The gate M is composed of thin plate, nearly square in plan, and at the under side of the center thereof is a lug N,having an aperture 4,through which a lever P extends and works slidingly, one end of the lever being pivoted by means of a screw 5, extending through a guide-piece L into the base A The opposite guide-piece has a series of latch-teeth O, engaged by thelever P. At the forward end of the frame is a bolt-hole 9 to receive the bolt Z, and a true bore 8 is made near the edge 6, adapted to receive the shaft I to act as a guide in assembling the parts. A basin 15 is formed in the top of the base A, at the center of which is a feed-aperture 16, the center of which is located in the opening between the edges 6 and 7 of the feed-aperture in the frame K. The rear end 14 of the main base A is provided with a rest-piece U, adapted to fit againstthe front portion of the body of the person carrying the implement.

Near the rear end of the guide-piece L, having the teeth 0, is an adjustable gage S, connected to the base A by a bolt and a thumb screw T, and is adapted to be engaged as a stop for the lever P.

In knocking down for shipment, which is practically important in order to avoid either expensive breakage or prohibitive expense for packing material, the wheel E and then the shaft F may be removed. Then the pin 10 being withdrawn, the shaft I and the distributer C may be detached from the frame G, after which the frame G may be detached from the main base A and the bar H from the frame Gr, and these detached parts may be conveniently packed without requiring waste space or material in so doing, a convenient place being within the canvas sides 15. By a similar reverse process the parts may be reassembled by even the most unskilled, the frame Kand gate M being adapted'to remain permanently attached to the base A.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

I. In a knockdown hand-seeder, the combination with the main base of the vessel having the feed-aperture therein, of the framebase having the side ears detachably secured to said main base and having the integral upper reach-arm extending under said feed-aperture and detachably secured to said main base and provided with the journal-bearing head, the curved portion extending from said frame-base, the lower reach-arm extending from said curved portion, the socket-bearing at the end of said lower reach-arm, the distributer-shaft having the pin-hole therein, the distribute! having the pin-hole therein, the removable pintle in said pin-holes, the drop-hanger attached to said lower reach-arm, the crank-shaft mounted in said drop-hanger, and the gear wheels connecting said distributer and said crank-shaft, substantially as specified.

2. In a knockdown hand-seeder, the combination with the vessel, of the main framebase having the side ears secured to said vessel, the curved portion extending from said frame-base, the lower reach-arm extending from the curved portion and having a bore therein, the removable bar inserted in said bore, and the removable cotter securing said bar in said bore, substantially as specified.

3. In a knockdown hand-seeder, the combination with the upper reach-arm and the lower reach-arm, of the distributer-shaft having the conical end and the pin-hole near such end and mounted in said arms, the distributor having the toothed wheel at the under side thereof and the pin-hole below such wheel and mounted on said shaft, and the removable pintle extending through said pin-holes, substantially as specified.

t. In a knockdown hand-seeder, the combination with the lower reach-arm, of the drop-hanger extending downwardly from said reach-arm, the bracket at the lower end of said drop-hanger, the journal-bearing in said bracket, the crank-shaft mounted in said journal-bearing and supported independ- IIO lower end thereof below said shaft, the crankshaft mounted in said journal-bearing and consisting of the continuous piece of wire having the bent portion forming the crank and having the depression therein, the collar composed of the piece of wire wrapped about said shaft and bent at one end thereof into said depression, the toothed wheel at the end of said shaft engaging the toothed wheel on said distributer, and the removable pintle where by said crank-shaft and said toothed wheel thereon are removably attached together, substantially as specified.

6. In a knockdown hand-seeder, the combination of the main frame having the conical bottom socket-bearing therein, the journal-bearing in the upper reach-arm, the distributor-shaft having the conical end revoluble in said bearings and having the pin-hole near said conical end, the distributor having the pin-hole at the under side thereof and mounted on said shaft, and the pintle in serted in said pin holes, substantially as specified.

7. In a knockdown hand-seeder, the combination of the herein-described main frame formed of a continuous piece and comprising a frame-base having side ears,an upper reacharm having a journal-head and an extension beyond said head, a curved portion extending from the frame-base, a lower reach-arm connected to the curved portion, a drophanger portion having a socket-bearing in the upper part thereof, a bracket at the lower end of the drop-hanger portion, and a journal-bearing in the bracket, with the seed vessel, the crank-shaft, the distributor, and the connecting gear wheels, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

SAMUEL JUMP SIMMONS.

Witnesses:

WM. H. PAYNE, E. T. SILVIUs. 

